Both Carl and Joy’s horses were exhausted by the time they descended the last gentle slope towards the bridge over the Semp river. Valda’s mount had more stamina then the other two, but it also hung its head, too tired to do anything but follow the horses in front.
Swift pricked her ears forward when she saw the hump of the sun bleached, wooden slats on the bridge crossing the Semp river at the end of the long straight road.
“Not far now.” Dallas patted her neck.
His mind filled with an image of Swift galloping south away from the bridge and the three youngsters talking to border guards.
The image Swift sent made him smile.
She was as keen to reach Misty and Sweetie as he was. “I think we can take the time to feed you some grain, and me a meal, before we look to Misty and Sweetie.”
Swift turned her head to get a good look at an abandoned compound half a mile to the west, south of the river tree line. Even with the thatched roof missing, it would still be a good base to run a slaver team into Convane.
The trees on the southern side of the river certainly gave cover to anyone approaching the bridge from the compound. Surprise would be on the slavers’ side if they attacked the border guards in large numbers.
He could suggest to Mage Raffet to remove trees on the south end of the bridge to prevent slavers moving close under cover of the trees. That would remove the element of surprise but unless the guard post obtained more guards, he doubted it would stop slavers crossing into Convane to carry out raids like the one at the property.
He watched a goat jump onto a part of the compound wall to reach up for leaves from a pale green tree. The wall crumbled and the goat sprang back down to the ground. Dallas thought he saw movement on the other side of the wall, but whether it was another goat or a human, he was not sure.
They were still half a mile away from the bridge when a guard strolled across the bridge. He leant against the first bridge post and waited.
A second border guard raced across the bridge, fumbling to get arrow to bow in case it was needed, before they were twenty yards away from the bridge.
“Move behind me,” Dallas ordered Carl when his mount smelled water and picked up his pace. Dallas glanced back at the two girls. They looked as exhausted as their mounts. “Valda, don’t mention Joy’s ability to send dreams to the guards.”
Valda frowned at Dallas. “Why?”
“Safer that way. If they know about Joy, they will send her to the city. I want the three of you to go to my parent’s property first, before we settle you somewhere safe.”
Valda nodded.
Dallas turned back to watch the guards in case the excited one accidentally released his arrow.
The first guard recognised Dallas and waved a greeting. He turned to the second guard. “Stand down.”
The second guard jogged back over the bridge hump and disappeared from sight. Dallas guessed he hurried to the guard post to warn the others of Dallas’s arrival.
Dallas nodded a greeting to the waiting guard before Swift crossed the bridge. The three very tired youngsters followed.
Swift stopped outside the lean-to stable and Dallas dismounted. He wrapped the reins around the saddle horn, and loosened the girth one notch, but did not remove the saddle. He removed his staff and patted Swift’s shoulder. “Drink and eat, and rest until I return.”
Swift walked across to the water trough and drank.
Dallas helped the two girls off their horses before he spoke to the waiting guard. “These horses need feed and water.” He gathered the reins with his right hand and passed them to the guard. “Is Mage Raffet inside?”
“Yes, sir.” The guard lead the two horses towards the water trough.
“Carl, water and feed your mount, and wait with the girls while I organise food and beds for the three of you.” Dallas did not wait to see if Carl would look after his mount.
Mage Raffet waited at the front door of the guard post, sipping from a metal mug.
Dallas looked inside the post, but all the bunks were empty. “Two of the youngsters are the children of Slave Master Idion. The other is one of their slaves.”
Mage Raffet raised his eyebrows. “Idion?”
“Dead. As are the rest of his family, except for Carl and Valda. Carl said a lot of the slaves escaped when the attackers were killing the family.” Dallas walked into the guard post and poured himself a mug full of water from a jug on the table, and drank the lot. He refilled the mug and drank slowly. “I need a meal before I return south. The youngsters need food and a good night’s sleep. When they wake, I would like you to send a guard with them to my parent’s property, or at least to the southern shepherd hamlet.”
Mage Raffet placed his empty mug on the table, next to three other empty mugs. “I will have one of the guards cook a meal when he returns. In the meantime, there is bread and cold meat and onions on the bench. Help yourself. I will call the children in so they can eat.”
“Wait until I finish telling you what I guess happened.” Dallas broke off two hunks of bread from the loaf, and piled pieces of cold, cooked lamb shank and sliced raw onions on the first hunk of bread. He placed the second hunk of bread over most of the meat and onions and took a mouthful.
Mage Raffet sat on the same seat he used the night before and waited for Dallas to finish his meal before hearing the rest of the story.
When Dallas had eaten half of his sandwich, he remembered the cover on the south side of the river. “When you finish clearing the area around the guard post, I suggest you remove some of the undergrowth and a few trees either side of the bridge. If the slavers could cross twice already, others can do the same.”
“Not enough guards to spare for that.”
“You will have even less guards if this lot are killed defending the bridge.” Dallas ate the rest of his sandwich and washed it down with more water. “From what Carl said, Mage Vince will soon arrive at Idion’s property, if he has not already arrived. He intends to recapture Misty. Whether he remains in Mireland or returns to Edgewood, I don’t know. But, I intend to return south to warn Misty about Crompton and Vince, and rescue the women and children.” Dallas drank another mug full of water before he walked out of the guard post.
Mage Raffet followed Dallas out of the building. “I think it would be best for you to continue down to Idion’s property and kill Crompton before Mage Vince arrives. If you do run into Misty tell her to return to the border.”
“Me? You mean ask Swift to kill Crompton?” Dallas shook his head. “No, that is a task for one of you mages. What about the captives?” No way was Dallas prepared to locate and kill Mage Crompton by himself, with or without Swift’s help.
“We can send you to rescue them after you take control of Idion’s property.”
“That is definitely a job for Mage Stantworth and Brennet. And a lot of your guards.”
Mage Raffet shook his head. “Stantworth is busy at the moment on other matters.”
Dallas tried to keep his frustration at the delays under control. “I request two guards to go with me, because Swift can defend us against mages, but I will need support to stop the slavers and rescue the captives.” Dallas decided it would be better to send Misty north with the rescued captives before he headed to Idion’s property. “And I need at least three spare horses to make better speed south.”
“Impossible. We don’t have the guards or horses to spare.”
“Need horses and guards or we will not get back before snow blocks the roads.”
Carl and Valda walked towards them. Joy followed them.
Once Dallas introduced the three to Mage Raffet, the mage turned to Carl. “Is your overseer still at the property?”
“Yes, he was helping round up the escaped slaves when we fled.” Carl looked at Dallas and raised his eyebrows.
“You can wait here until Mage Raffet organises a ride for the three of you up to my property. I will take your borrowed horses south with me.” Dallas walked to the door. “There is food on the counter you can eat. Then follow Mage Raffet’s orders until I return.”
Mage Raffet did not speak, so Dallas strode around the side to Swift. He wanted to take the borrowed mounts, but they were so exhausted, they would only slow him down.
He quickly prepared Swift, mounted and rode down the path to the bridge.
“Dallas! Wait?”
Dallas turned to see who called.
A guard trotted down the path towards him. His mount was weighed down with two bulging saddlebags. Dallas guessed he had enough supplies to last a week. He also noticed the full quiver slung across his back. The guard held the bow in his left hand and the reins in his right hand. “I volunteered to go with you.”
A shout of “’Ware a landing dragon!” from the guard on the bridge caused Dallas to glance up. He saw the bright silver glow through the treetops but the dragon was still out of view.
The guard moved around Swift and walked on to the bridge, to clear the area for a dragon to land. Dallas followed the guard to the top of the bridge hump, then turned to watch the landing dragon.
It was Brennet. He landed in a swirl of dust and leaves, even though there were still puddles of water from showers that morning. Mage Stantworth blocked the face of his passenger, until the mage dismounted.
Dallas recognised the round body and bald head of Councillor Anglewort.
So that was why Brennet was too busy to fly south to remove Crompton from Idion’s property. He was flying the councillor across Convane.
After Mage Stantworth helped the councillor dismount, he introduced Dallas.
“Dallas? Where have I heard that name before?” The wrinkles on the councillor’s forehead deepened as he puzzled over Dallas’ name.
“Dallas was one of the two tracker riders who crossed the wall.” Mage Stantworth smiled towards Dallas. “I thought you would be much further south by now.”
Dallas dismounted and walked off the bridge. “I bought three youngsters to safety, but I have to return south to rescue the captives. Mage Raffet can explain.” Dallas turned to walk back to Swift.
“Wait!” Councillor Anglewort ordered. “Take your tracker west into Mireland to help Stantworth remove a rogue mage.”
“I can not do that. I am needed south.” Dallas wondered why Stantworth and Brennet could not remove one mage by themselves or even get another mage from the city to help, but did not voice his thoughts.
Swift sent an image to Dallas to mount and ride south.
Dallas reached Swift and mounted while the councillor spoke quietly to Mage Stantworth. It was too quiet for Dallas to hear, but Brennet did not like what the councillor said, because the large dragon spread his wings, forcing the councillor and mage to jump away before they were knocked over.
Mage Stantworth grinned at Bren’s antics. “Councillor, Bren said he would not treat a tracker that way.”
Dallas guessed the councillor had ordered Bren to carry Swift in his claws. He was glad Bren said no to that suggestion.
Swift whinnied agreement.
Bren turned his large head towards Swift and Dallas, so Dallas bowed slightly as a silent thank you.
The overweight councillor shouted at Dallas. “You are a guard and will do as ordered.”
“I am only a temporary guard while I rescue stolen citizens of Convane. I suggest you let Mage Stantworth deal with any rogue mages.”
Councillor Anglewort took a step onto the road, then remembered how large Bren was, so stepped back. “I order you to ride west!”
Dallas shook his head. “If the mage in northern Mireland is abusing the laws, it is the councillors and mages who are responsible. One of your mages needs to arrest the rogue mage, not me. Then let one of your judicators decide the fate of the rogue mage.”
Brennet stood and spread his wings again.
Dallas took the moment the councillor was distracted to cross the bridge heading south.
The guard followed. “I am Dart Vincent. I saw you at the border before you rode into Mireland over a month ago.”
“Save your breath, Dart, we have a long way to go.” Dallas nudged Swift. She broke into a gallop, sending dust flying as her hoofs landed on the dirt road.
Dart’s horse took a moment longer before he also broke into a gallop.
It was mid afternoon before Dallas rode around the dead males who cast the net over the youngsters.
Swift continued south.
Dart took in all the details of the bodies as he followed Dallas and Swift but he did not question what happened.
When Swift pulled over to the left side of the road and stopped, Dallas dismounted.
Swift sent an image of Misty and Sweetie walking west towards a cluster of pine trees.
Dallas walked west until he found their prints. He remounted and let Swift follow the tracks towards the pines. “Keep your eyes open,” he warned Dart.
From the raised ground where the pines grew he had a clear view across the rolling land for miles, even though the road dipped out of sight two hundred yards away. He imagined Misty waited in the cover of the pines watching the wagon and riders head south.
“Smoke over there.” Dart pointed towards a wooded area over three miles southwest.
“Could be a dwelling.” Dallas doubted Misty would light a fire and draw attention to herself.
“Or a campfire.” Dart released the tension on his bow before he dropped the arrow into his quiver and slipped it back over his right shoulder, leaving both hands free to guide his mount back down the incline to the road.
“Swift, follow Sweetie’s tracks.” Dallas hoped it was the slaver camp, because Misty would be close by, waiting for her chance to remove one more slaver.